Lights—small and big—were gorgeous too.

I turned left and I was welcomed by a grand spiral staircase. Its hardwood s.h.i.+ned brightly. I have to be really, like really, careful when going down. I might tripped and hurt myself. I sighed in relief when I successfully got down.

"Oh, Miss Kara... are you okay?" I turned around to see Cris with a feather duster in her hand.

I smiled. "Yes, I am! I'm finally free..." I announced excitedly.

She smiled and led me to the kitchen. There, I saw another housemaid cooking. "This is Manang Rosing, she is the one who does the cooking while my job is to deliver. But I guess I will not do that anymore."

I grinned. "Yes, because I will be the one to come down."

The woman in her 50's waved her tong at me and smiled. Her white hair was tied into a bun perfectly. Her wrinkles in the cheeks and neck were visible, too.

"Hi! It's nice to meet you!" I greeted.

"It's nice to finally meet you, too, dear. I was wandering when Kean would let you out of your room," she replied.

"Ah, I managed to convince him."

"That's good. I thought he'll be acting like a possessive alpha forever," Manang Rosing said quoting on the word 'alpha' while rolling her eyes.

Cris laughed. "I thought so, too."

I sat to one of the chairs and laid my hand on the table. "So, are there any other housemaids here?"

"Nah-uh, others are not staying in. They just have to appear on their scheduled time and they can go home once they're done doing their work," Cris explained.

I wanted to ask why they were staying in but I guess that will be too much for me to. So I just nodded and murmured 'hmm'.

"Is there anything you need, Miss?" Cris said.

I pouted my lips. I'm thinking if maybe she'll let me have it. "Can I borrow your phone?"

Manang Rosing 'tsk'ed and let out a stifled giggle. "Sweetie, no phones or any electronic gadgets are allowed in this house."

Cris nodded sourly. "Yes, miss. I don't know why that is though."

Frustrated, I ran my fingers through my hair. 'This place is h.e.l.l.'

Cris pulled a chair beside me and sat. "You're probably thinking that this place is h.e.l.l right now. It was also my thought when I came here first. But you can be used to this in the long run."

"So, you don't contact your family?" I asked. No one could ever be used to this situation. Why would Kean prohibits the use of phones?

"She doesn't have family either. Kean found her on the street running away from loan sharks," Manang Rosing b.u.t.ted in.

If manang can answer that personal question, then she and Cris were probably together for a long time now.

My eyes widened. "You were found on the streets?" Just like her. Does Kean really like to rescue people? Well, that was great but what if he would sell us off later?

"Yes. My parents died in a traffic accident. After their burial, loan sharks swarmed over me like flies. I was 19 years old that time. How can a 19-year-old have all that money to pay off the amount my parents loaned? Ah, that time was really a h.e.l.l for me. I ran off to the streets endlessly and that was when Sir Kean found me."

I don't know why she was so comfortable talking to me about her painful past. It seemed like coated and exaggerated. Nevertheless, I nodded and looked at her like I was sorry. I don't usually judge others like this but it felt like it this time. Cris was pretty and had a fair complexion. When she was talking to me about her 'past', her eyes told the opposite.

I sighed and hid my suspicions with a smile. "So, you're here for five years? And never had a phone?"

She nodded. "Yes and yes."

I was about to ask another question when Manang Rosing squealed in delight.

"It's finally done!" she said and wore mittens on both hands. She turned off the stove and transferred the pan.

A minute later, everything was ready. We all had a plate and a pair of arancini—an Italian dish according to her and a gla.s.s of lemon juice.

My mouth watered at the sight. They were perfectly deep-fried golden brown medium sized b.a.l.l.s. I broke it in half and 'wowed' as there was mozzarella inside.

"You are a great cook, manang!" I said.

"Thanks, Miss!" she replied and had a chunk of her own.

"Do we have a feast here?" said a man.

We all tuned our heads on where the voice came from. And as I saw his face, I nearly rolled my eyes but there was something I remember that urged me not to. I need to convince him on having a phone and I have to be nice to him if I want to have it.

Manang Rosing stood up. "Come, sir. We have our after-dinner snack."

Kean pulled a chair for him and Manang Rosing gave him a plate.

"Where have you been?" I asked keeping myself to shoot daggers to him.

He raised his eyebrows. He probably sensed that the tone of my voice got a little, little nicer. "I'm in my room."

I didn't talk after that. Actually, no one did. We all ate in silence.

The next morning was a good day for me. I was able to go out and stick to the window to feel the heat of the sun. Cris was dusting off the paintings displayed on the second floor. We just smiled when we pa.s.sed each other on the staircase.

Outside, I can see coconut trees were planted with distance alike from each other. Cool wind welcomed me as I close my eyes to inhale. From what I can feel, this place was located on the country side.

"Feeling great?"

I rolled my eyes in annoyance but remained my face straight outside the window looking at the scenery. Why does he have to appear every time people had a good time?

"Yeah!" I replied.

The cus.h.i.+on deepened as he sat beside me. "Are you missing home?"

My head turned to face him. I want to f.u.c.king snarl at him like wasn't it obvious? I don't like being here. But I got to be nice. So I nodded and face outside again.

"How was your trip to China?" I asked.

I was startled when he held my arm forcefully and made me face him. His eyebrows were in one line and disbelief filled his eyes. "How did you know I went to China?"

I wriggled my arm out from his grasp. "Firstly, it hurts. Secondly, am I the only person here? There's Cris that will tell me where the h.e.l.l are you."

I looked at the second floor and then to him. Why would he fret about me knowing where he had been?

"f.u.c.k!" he said.